Francesco Galimi, M.D., Ph. D. is the winner of the International Fellowship from the José Carreras International Leukemia Foundation this year. Dr. Galimi will begin his work under the grant in July, 1999 at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California. Dr. Galimi’s project is entitled The Role of Telomere Maintenance in Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells: A Gene Transfer Approach. The research is designed to study a model to investigate the role of telomere dynamics in the regulation of stem cell growth, self-renewal and life span.  Telomeres are terminal sequences on chromosomes that undergo shortening at every cell division, thus playing a role in the life span of the stem cell.  The practical application of these studies will be important in future cell transplantation studies involving attempts to manipulate stem cell growth.

Dr. Galimi was born in Italy. He received his medical degrees from the University of Torino Medical School (M.D. 1991, Ph. D. 1995). His wife, Cristina Pastore, is also a scientist, working at Scripps Research Institute. He has worked on gene therapy of the hematopoietic system at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies since 1998. Outside the lab, his hobbies are skiing, collecting antique medical books, and good food.

Reflecting on his role in the study of hematology, Dr. Galimi says, “I consider myself a physician, even though in this part of my career I do not interact with patients. My professional aim is to give a contribution in filling the current gap between theoretical and practical medicine, by working at the transfer of basic science to the hemato-oncological clinical area. After my training period here at Salk, I am planning to set up my own lab in my home University back in Italy.”